Alas Uruguay

Alas Uruguay Boeing 737-300 at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 2016.

Alas Uruguay was founded in 2013 on the initiative of a group of former PLUNA employees, but several difficulties led to it starting operations only almost three years later. It had a fleet of three leased Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered to the airline in January 2015. She had previously operated for Ukraine International Airlines (UIA). Later in 2015, a second aircraft, also previously from UIA, and a third one, previously from Southwest Airlines, were delivered. All had blended winglets.[2]

After several postponements, Alas Uruguay commenced operations on 21 January 2016, with a flight from Montevideo to Asunción, Paraguay,[1] followed by Buenos Aires, Argentina six days later on the 27th.[3] The Asunción route was discontinued on 12 October 2016, as it was not profitable.[4] Plans to fly to Brazil and Chile never materialized.

The airline operated for only nine months, struggling with financial difficulties, and suspended its operations on 24 October 2016.[5] That day, its last remaining plane was repossessed by the lessor and Alas Uruguay filed a request to the Uruguayan authorities for a 60-day suspension of its activities,[5] but operations never resumed and the airline lost its air operator's certificate (AOC) at the end of that period.[6]

The company was heavily indebted, owing U.S.$15 million to the Uruguayan government for a loan granted for the start of its operations and a further U.S.$4.9 million to suppliers.[7] Negotiations with Chilean airline Latin American Wings to take over the company failed[8] and Alas Uruguay was declared bankrupt, but as of 2017 Azul Brazilian Airlines was negotiating with the Uruguayan government to establish a subsidiary in the country, taking up some of Alas Uruguay's routes and staff.[9]